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Kiokansium polypes ssp. polypes

Kiokansium polypes ssp. polypes

Autonym, now redundant.
Originally Cleistosphaeridium polypes ssp. polypes, subsequently Bacchidinium polypes ssp. polypes, thirdly Impletosphaeridium polypes ssp. polypes, fourthly Kiokansium polypes ssp. polypes.

Holotype: Cookson and Eisenack, 1962, pl.4, figs.11-13
Locus typicus: Victoria, Australia
Stratum typicum: ?Senonian

Original diagnosis: Cookson and Eisenack 1962, p. 491: Hystrichosphaeridium recurvatum ssp. polypes
Shell circular to subcircular in outline with fourty or more slender appendages of approximately uniform width throughout except for a slight broadening at the base; the tips of the appendages are fringed with short and straight or recurved processes, which divide once or twice into short, hair-like branches that are visibly only with the aid of an oil-immersion objective. The surface of the shell is finely granular. Dimensions: Over-all diameter ca. 52-99 µm; shell 33-57 µm ; appendages ca. 15-25 µm.

Supplemental description: Davey 1969, p.154: Cleistosphaeridium polypes.
The shell is spherical to subspherical and bears numerous slender processes. The shell wall is thin and may be smooth or slightly granular. the processes are narrow, usually less than 1 µm in width for most of their length, broadening slightly proximally. They are closed distally and terminate in a number of short, fine spines. The latter are not so numerous in the English and French specimens as in those from Australia and North America where the distal spines are numerous. A fairly large archaeopyle, probably apical, with an angular margin is often present. Dimensions: shell diameter 31(38.4)47 Ám, maximum process legth 9(13.4)18 Ám.

Supplemental description: Davey 1979, p. 555: Bacchidinium polypes polypes
The wall of the cyst is smooth to lightly punctate and, being thin, is often deformed. The processes may be almost parallel-sided but often, as in the present material, they widen proximally. Distally the processes typically give rise to several small flexuous spines although in some specimens this type of termination is largely replaced by one that is recurved and non-spinose. Because both types of termination may occur on an individual specimen, specific differentiation is considered unnecessary. The distinctive type 2P archeopyle was observed in several specimens but in the majority of cases either the shape and position of the archeopyle could not be determined or no opening at all was apparent. (According to Below 1982c, p.14, the specimen assigned to B. polypes is really a Taleisphaera hydra Duxbury 1979 = Kiokansium hydra Below 1982c)

Supplemental description: Below 1982, p.16
Kiokansium polypes is typically spheroidal and has thick processes, and differs therein from the ovaloidal Kiokansium unituberculatum which has thin processes.
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